Beirut Must Buys
Local specialities and unique finds

  •  Anything from L’Artisanat

     
      Image courtesy of www.lebanesemall.com

  •  An inlaid Syrian backgammon set (or indeed antique inlaid furniture if so
    inclined)
  •  The hot CDs from the clubs you danced in (buy - in Virgin Megastore)
  •  Food products from the mountains of the Chouf
  •  Lebanese sweets (of course).
  •  Contemporary Arab art; carpets from the network of the Maktabi family’s
      shops, bequeathed to the myriad sons by the venerable grandfather who
    started the business – the outlet near the Phoenicia is the best one to
    start with.
  •  Soft leather babouche slippers by Johnny Farah (in his Hamra or Saifi
    stores)
  •  Anything from the extraordinary chocolate shops like Paatchi and
    Nougatina, where chocolates come delivered not in boxes but on silver
    platters, colour coordinated ceramics.
  •  La Cigale and Cannelle are among leading patisseries – and well, well
    worth a visit (though tricky to take abroad, maybe! But hey there’s always
    the famed Lebanese packaging, and if you’re travelling first class……?)